Andrew Murray struggles to put Mayer away in Valencia

Published on Thursday 5 November 2009 23:27

ANDY Murray moved into the last eight of the Valencia Open after surviving a tougher than expected workout against world No64 Leonardo Mayer in Spain.

The top-seed produced an inconsistent performance in his second match since a six-week injury lay-off, but came good in the decider to win an entertaining tussle 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

Murray struggled to get into his rhythm from the start, while Mayer served confidently until the ninth game – which the Scot seized on his first break-point chance, before serving out to take the set.

The second set proved a disaster for Murray, who found himself 4-0 down. After going a further game behind, Murray won three games on the trot, before Mayer served out at the second attempt to draw level.

The decider was a cagey affair. But Murray struck in the sixth game, pressuring the Argentine's serve and converting his second break-point. Mayer was far from finished and nervelessly rescued the first two match-points against him. But the Scot held firm, forcing a forehand error from Mayer to set up his third opportunity – which he finally took with an ace.

Murray will now play Spaniard Albert Montanes – who was given a valuable day's rest when his opponent, eighth seed David Ferrer, withdrew with an ankle injury.